Jesse Jackson / Palestinian Rights Groups Speak Out at HP Shareholders' Meeting

It is widely recognized that the tech industry lacks diversity. Jesse Jackson questioned Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman at HP's shareholders meeting at the Santa Clara Convention Center today. While the Reverend Jackson shined a spotlight on tech's poor record of hiring minorities and the growing inequality in this country, others spoke out against HP's involvement with the Israeli military and the oppression of Palestinians.

A protest in front of the Convention Center moved from the sidewalk, where placards were raised to passing traffic, to the front of the building so that "people inside can see us," said organizers of the demonstration led by Jewish Voice for Peace.

Inside the meeting, a Presbyterian minister, who is also a former HP employee, introduced a resolution to stop Hewlett Packard's complicity with the Israeli military in repressing the free movement of Palestinians. HP has a contract to produce and manufacture biometric ID cards which Israel uses in a discriminatory manner to segregate Palestinians.